France says Olympic ransomware attacks 'inevitable'

Paris: The French government cyber security agency on Thursday warned that ransomware attacks will be inevitable during the upcoming Olympic Games i...

Paris: The French government cyber security agency on Thursday warned that ransomware attacks will be "inevitable" during the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris.

For two years, French officials have been preparing to fight off an unprecedented level of cyber attacks at the Olympic Games which begin in Paris on July 26.

The kaleidescope of threats could come from criminal groups, states such as Russia that are eager to undermine the Games, "hacktivists" with ideological ambitions or gamblers.

Government cyber security agency Anssi expressed confidence that security teams would cope despite the threat of such attacks, but said it was "unrealistic" to expect that all of them would be avoided.

"It's absolutely certain and inevitable that ransomware attacks will occur during the Games," the agency said. "And statistically, there is a high chance that ransomware attacks will affect actors who will be involved in the Games."